Predictions on Keizer’s real estate market are difficult to make with accuracy. Take, for example, local weather forecasts. Even when armed with technology like detailed satellite images, plus wind, barometric and temperature data, weather forecasters can get it wrong…and that’s for predictions merely a week or two away!

Accurately Predicting Weather & Real Estate Trends Seems Easy

Predicting Keizer’s Real Estate TrendsNow imagine the difficulty in predicting real estate market activity a full year into the future. Along with seasonal influences, other challenges in real estate forecasting include changing interest and employment rates, ever-shifting home inventory levels, plus a myriad of lending regulations and the mysteries of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, just to name a few. Little wonder, then that some view real estate predictions as akin to flipping a coin or using a dart board.

Although Fun, Darts Are A Poor Choice For Accurate Real Estate Forecasting

Real Estate Forecasting: What Can Work While not foolproof, one generally helpful tool for predicting future real estate trends can be past real estate trends. Major unpredictable shifts occasionally occur, but the key word here is occasionally.

For example, the Great Recession that hit Keizer and the rest of the country starting around 2007-2008 was our nation’s worst economic downturn since 1929. Thankfully we haven’t seen such financial meltdowns every year, or every decade, or even every half century. So aside from similar cataclysmic shifts, a certain degree of real estate predictability is possible.

Regional Home Price Chart Including Keizer

Reasons For 2015 Keizer Real Estate OptimismSeveral factors are coming together to provide for an optimistic New Year in our area. As you’ll see, some factors are under federal control and others occur locally, but each has an impact on Keizer real estate. So if you’ve held off selling your Keizer area home, here are four of them that portend a good 2015:

1. Credit Scores LoosenMost homebuyers need a home loan, generally known as a mortgage. The good news is that mortgage credit is becoming more available as lenders loosen credit requirements.

3. Consumer OptimismRecent figures from the National Association of Realtors confirm homebuyers are now more optimistic. This includes our area. When it comes to single family homes, the ‘Confidence Index’ chart below shows most states now have a majority level of optimism in their region, including ours.

Orange & Red = Strong Single Family Home Consumer Confidence

4. Home Inventory DropsThanks to the reduced level of local new construction, home inventory in our region is lower. Due to seasonality, our most recent survey shows a reduction in properties for sale. Fewer properties means more of a seller’s market.

The Bottom LineIf you’ve held off selling your Keizer home because you were ‘under water,’ or concerned about the market being too low, now is a good time to consider re-evaluating.

Many Keizer Homeowners Are No Longer ‘Under Water’

Keizer’s real estate market has changed. Experts predict regional home price growth to continue at a slower pace through 2015. A Keizer price increase slowdown seems likely, since while the Regional Multiple Listing Service reports North Keizer’s year-to-date price growth rate is 4.9%, South Keizer’s 23.9% year-to-date home price increase would be difficult to sustain. For North Keizer, expect around 3% in 2015 home price appreciation. South Keizer home price growth is likely to come in between 5% and 10%.